The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is ramping up efforts to combat the spread of false information linked to heightened political tensions following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“This is very obvious that more fake news is circulating, maybe because of the present situation,” PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a recent press briefing.
The fake news surge has also included false claims involving First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, prompting the government’s lead communications arm to take a more active role in countering misinformation and disinformation.
To address the issue, the PCO has launched live discussions with concerned authorities to clarify misleading information.
“With these kinds of projects, like press briefings and live discussions, I think people will have a chance to know what is fake news and what is not,” Castro said.
When asked whether it was time to prosecute fake news peddlers, Castro said the government is studying potential legal actions.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are also formulating plans to track down those responsible for spreading fake news.
The PCO is in close coordination with these agencies to ensure misinformation is curbed effectively.
The PNP Anti Cybercrime Group is currently documenting fake news being spread on social media by certain individuals.
According to Police Regional Office 3 Director and PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, they have already identified those spreading disinformation.